Copy of Wooded Island Bird Walk Report

To quote Yogi Berra, it was “déjà vu all over again.” We recall with dismay the height of spring migration a couple of years ago, when the Park District cut down a huge mulberry tree near Darrow Bridge. The warblers were flying forth from the tree as birders watched. This past Monday, the contractors for the Park District/Army Corps of Engineers cut down the mature tree on Heron Island that was the favored perched for the State Rare Bird, the Bohemian Waxwing. That put an end to any and all sightings of this phenomenal bird’s respite in Jackson Park.

Wooded Island is now drastically denuded. Heavy equipment roads have been created. The work crews were busy cutting down the few remaining trees along Cornell Drive. If anyone thinks that the Obama Library will not be built on Cornell Drive, I am taking bets.

The highlight this morning was the energetic Merlin that cut a hypotenuse flight pattern across the water from the 63rd St Beach to the turnaround at North of LaRabida. It perched in a tree near the center of the yacht parking lot. We were able to observe it well through our scopes. Mark Webster took a great photo of the Merlin and of an adult male White-winged Scoterthat was in the channel connecting the Harbor and the Lake. A photo of each is attached to this report.

Lesser Scaup 7 3 m., 2 fem. and 2 not sexed (seen by another member of my party)

White-winged Scoter 8 5 ad. m., 1 imm. m. (with two white blotches on left side of face but only a bit of white below eye on right side of face!), 2 imm./fem.

Common Goldeneye 2 1 m. OH; 1 fem L. Mich.

Common Merganser 2 male + fem. OH

Red-breasted Merganser 20 16 m., 4 fem.; all but 1 fem. L. Mich.

Ring-billed Gull 81 Ads.

Herring Gull 6 3 ads., 1 3rd cyc., 1 2nd cyc. (I think), 1 1st cyc.

gull sp. 3 Up high

Merlin 1 Female (I think)

American Crow 2

Black-capped Chickadee 1

Dark-eyed Junco 1

Northern Cardinal 1 Heard only

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. Come to Darrow Bridge to meet with the other birders.

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation but there are openings at each end that allows for foot traffic. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe. Birders continue to meet on Darrow Bridge at the start times, even during the multi-year restoration of Wooded Island and other areas within Jackson Park.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, and at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

Birders gather on Darrow Bridge, which is located south of the Museum of Science and Industry.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end near Darrow Bridge.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 58th to 56th Street.